KZN matric pupils face uncertainty

TEACHER UNIONS INITIATE WORK-TO-RULE PROTEST

- YOSHINI PERUMAL

EXTRA classes for KZN matric pupils have been cancelled and the June exams postponed after teacher union Sadtu announced its work-to-rule action.

Education experts have slammed this move and called on unions to “stop using pupils as bargaining chips”.

This action will see teachers strictly adhere to the rules and regulations of their jobs, performing tasks exactly specified in their contracts and nothing more.

Some schools in KZN have already sent out circulars to parents advising that extra classes for matric pupils had been cancelled and the postponement of June examinations.

Sadtu provincial secretary Nomarashiya Caluza, said the education system in the province had collapsed due to various failures by the Department of Education' (DoE)

"There has been non-payment of the basic finance allocations and failure to adhere to national norms and standards. For example, for Quintile one to three schools, the DoE in KZN pays R955 per pupil instead of R1 602, resulting in a shortfall of R647.

"There was a failure to pay the basic finance allocation to schools and the acting allowances to office-based teachers and education workers. Schools have no money to procure other teaching and learning support resources.

"There was also the non-payment of service providers that supplied schools with stationery in January, and the non-payment of Grade R practitioners in April," she said.

"There has been no participation of schools in extracurricular activities, as the department claims it has no funds. Teacher appreciation initiatives like the National Teaching Awards are under threat, as the department failed to organise this again in 2024 claiming it had no funds," she added.